The front of the rear tires touching the ground. Students have been injured or killed when clothing, accessories, or even parts of their body are caught in the handrail or door as they exited the bus. However, vehicles moving in the opposite direction can pass if theres a raised barrier or an unpaved median five feet or larger. You are loading students along the route. Under S. 175 (11,12) of the Highway Traffic Act, if the school bus is stopped and has its overhead red lights flashing, drivers who are "meeting" the bus must stop before reaching it and must not . Approximately 100 school bus drivers from across Pennsylvania participate in the competition each year. The danger zones may extend as much as 30 feet from the front bumper (with the first 12 feet being the most dangerous), 12 feet from the left and right sides, and 12 feet behind the rear bumper of the school bus. Remember, if your ABS malfunctions, you still have regular brakes. The driver of a vehicle on meeting, from either direction, any school bus flashing red lights must stop the vehicle at no closer than 15 feet before reaching the school bus. Watch. Do not pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing? When a school bus comes to a stop and activates its red flashing lights, drivers traveling in both directions are required to come to a complete stop at least 20 feet away from the school bus. Renew, reinstate, or apply for a motor carrier permit. Please enable scripts and reload this page. When the road crosses over more than one set of tracks, a sign below the crossbuck indicates the number of tracks. For more information, review Pennsylvania's School Bus Stopping Law Fact Sheet. If there is a behavior problem on the bus, wait until the students unloading are safely off the bus and have moved away. Here's a list of the latest school bus laws in Ohio: The driver of any vehicle approaching a school bus in any direction must stop at least ten feet from the front or rear of the school bus. First conviction - fine of $250-$400 and/or up to 30 days in jail, Second conviction within 3 years - fine of $600-$750 and/or up to 180 days in jail, Vehicle Owners - A law was passed in 2019, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, Governors Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) website, Automated Records Access for Businesses and Government, DMV Electronic Voter Registration Application. They cannot proceed until the school bus resumes motion or the school bus driver motions for the automobile driver to proceed. That said, even with the five feet unpaved medians, cars moving in the opposite direction should exercise caution. Remind the offender of the expected behavior. The Wisconsin Rules of the Road are designed to protect drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. They keep flashing for about 30 seconds after the door closes and continue even after the bus moves off. School buses not only alert drivers to the presence of children, but the rules of the road require drivers to act in a certain way around buses to enhance the safety of the children getting off the bus. Drivers who speed past a school bus will not avoid a ticket. When you come to a four way stop who has the right away? Knowing what to do in an emergencybefore, during, and after an evacuationcan mean the difference between life and death. Check out this graphic that helps illustrate Pennsylvania's school bus stopping law. Establish a positive relationship with your students. They are used to see the front bumper danger zone area directly in front of the bus that is not visible by direct vision, and the danger zone area to the left and right side of the bus, including the service door and front wheel area. How Far Away Should I Stop for a School Bus? Stop the bus. Drivers must stop if the bus has its red light flashing as it picks up or drops off children, depending on the driver's direction of travel and the type of road . The red lights should be a sign that children are in the area and vehicles should be stopped. Lead students upwind of the bus at least 300 feet if there is a risk from spilled HazMat. The driver may not see you and begin moving the bus. If you would like more information on school bus safety and awareness, you can refer to the following: Enroll in the Donate Life Registry to become an organ donor. When a school bus stops and flashes its red lights, traffic approaching from either direction. The statute requires: Stopping your vehicle at least 20ft from the bus. To translate this page, please The violation is considered reckless driving and could be subject to a $2,500 fine. After unloading at school, why should you walk through the bus? When a school bus is flashing its red overhead lights? The Michigan school bus traffic laws prohibit drivers from passing a school bus that is stopped and has its red lights flashing. The penalty for failure to stop for a school bus goes from a minimum $100 to $200 and if a second offense is committed in 5 years, the person's license will be suspended for up to 1 year. The six winners of the competition are also recognized at an event held during National School Bus Safety Week. Drive and brake as you always have. Flashing Red A flashing red traffic signal light means STOP. After stopping, you may proceed when it is safe. Michigan School Bus Laws - Look at the Lights. Practice here. Use only the braking force necessary to stop safely and stay in control. Tips for Children: School is back in session. The area has a very young population and the highest birthrate in B.C. The lookout should not give directions on how to back the bus. Children can be unpredictable and may try to cross the road when its not safe to do so. ABS should prevent brake-induced skids but not those caused by spinning the drive wheels or going too fast in a turn. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. Have the students remain seated until told to exit. When should you activate your alternating flashing amber warning lights? A train is approaching. They can even move the school bus off the road or, in extreme conditions, tip it over. Chapter 33 - Rules of the Road in General 3345 - Meeting or overtaking school bus. It requires you to yield the right-of-way to the train. If it will not fit, do not commit! Sometimes, it may be safer to remain on the bus and not come in contact with the material. When a moving school bus displays flashing yellow lights, this usually means they are preparing to stop to load or unload children. You must stop at these crossings and follow proper procedures. Even though there are safety guidelines for boarding the bus, driving near school buses comes with different rules than regular traffic. Students should board the bus only when signaled by the driver. California law requires drivers to stop in both directions when a school bus has flashing red lights on. Prepare information for emergency responders. Generally, if a stopped school bus is displaying a flashing, alternating red lamp, a driver of a vehicle meeting or overtaking the stopped bus from either direction (front or back) must stop and wait until the bus moves again or the red light is off. If your bus is so equipped, the overhead strobe light should be used when you have limited visibility. Slow down. Drivers must stop at least 20 feet away and cannot resume driving until the bus lights are turned off or the bus begins moving. Red flashing lights and extended stop arms mean the bus has stopped and that children are . Each year, PennDOT participates in National School Bus Safety Week, which will be celebrated this year from Oct. 18-22, 2021. At Murphy & Prachthauser, we understand that laws and statutes can sometimes be difficult to understand. Lights begin to flash when the bus stops and the doors open, and they keep flashing for about 20 seconds after the doors close. Wait until the school bus has stopped all traffic before stepping out onto the road. ABS is an add-on to your normal brakes, not a replacement for them. You should walk through the bus and around the bus to look for the following: Any problems or special situations should be reported immediately to your supervisor or school authorities. When you approach a school bus with flashing red lights from either direction What should you do? Would moving students complicate injuries such as neck and back injuries and fractures? Information is available for passenger vehicles, school buses/vehicles, as well as, wheelchairs and child passenger safety restraints. Turn on the right turn signal indicator about 100-300 feet or approximately 3-5 seconds before pulling over. A school bus's yellow lights are a warning that the bus is about to stop so you need to slow down and be prepared to stop. You are required to yield the right-of-way to the train. These lights could be malfunctioning. There is a blind spot area directly behind the drivers seat, as well as a large blind spot area that begins at the rear bumper and could extend up to 400 feet or more behind the bus. Drivers must stop at least 20 feet away and cannot resume driving until the bus lights are turned off or the bus begins moving. As a general rule, add 15 feet to the length of the school bus to determine an acceptable amount of containment or storage area. on roads that are divided to separate. Look up the status of an active OL permit holder. If you see flashing yellow lights, that means the school bus is about to stop. You should slow down to lessen the effect of the wind, or pull off the roadway and wait. Mechanical/operational problems with the bus, with special attention to items that are unique to school busesmirror systems, flashing warning lamps, and stop signal arms. Always walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus when crossing so that the school bus driver can see you. The . In addition, the area to the left of the bus is always considered dangerous because of passing cars. When the school bus is moving, always stay in your seat. This is particularly true if the bus is stopped in a loading zone since pedestrians arent permitted to cross. Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety. Students should be told to leave any dropped object and move to a point of safety out of the danger zones and attempt to get the drivers attention to retrieve the object. When a school bus stops and flashes its red lights, traffic approaching from either direction must stop before reaching the bus: Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. You must proceed with caution and watch for children by the side of the road. Your email address will not be published. You must proceed with caution and watch for children by the side of the road. Remember, in addition to picking up and dropping off students, school buses are required by law to stop at railroad crossings. Contact your dispatcher to get more information on how to proceed. The driver must ensure that these mirrors are properly adjusted. Maryland's law requires: If a school vehicle has stopped on a road and is operating the alternately flashing red lights, the driver of any vehicle following or approaching the school bust. After unloading all children at the school or after your last stop, make sure to do a post-trip of your bus and check to make sure that no child has been left on the bus. Make a final check to see that all traffic has stopped before completely opening the door and signaling students to approach. 200 feet or 4 bus lengths behind the bus. Use strobe lights only when visibility is reduced to 500 feet or less due to atmospheric conditions including, but not limited to, fog, rain, snow, smoke, or dust (CVC 25257.7). If there is an emergency, listen to the driver and follow instructions. Proper adjustment and use of all mirrors is vital to the safe operation of the school bus in order to observe the danger zone around the bus and look for students, traffic, and other objects in this area. Vehicles with ABS have yellow malfunction lamps to tell you if something is not working. There are currently road test cancellations or DMV offices closed for in-person services. How far does the danger zone extend around the bus? If necessary, pull the bus over to handle the problem. Sec. ABS helps you avoid wheel lock up and maintain control. It means that drivers have to be even more careful to look out for children crossing the street and for school buses. After that, you only proceed if the lights stop flashing, the bus resumes motion, or the driver signals you onward. These mirrors are mounted on both the left and right front corners of the bus. Pennsylvania law prohibits children from standing on the bus while the bus is in motion. Like most other states, school bus rules in Texas dictate you stop if you see the flashing red lights. You can proceed if the bus driver or a traffic officer gives you the OK or when the red lights stop flashing.

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